The ceremony was attended by County Executive Tom Gordon, who read a proclamation honoring the department, and members of County Council, who presented a resolution to recognize the milestone.

County Council's resolution recognized Daniel Knight, the first officer of the county rural police, who was hired in 1913 and first assigned to school crossing guard duties. He was paid a salary of $2 a day, or $730 a year.

That same year, the county highway police agency was also formed, which county council recognized as marking the progression that would eventually lead to the organization of the modern department.

Since then, the department has grown from 22 officers to 370 and became the second largest police force in the state, serving more than 500,000 people.

"We're the agency that when you're in your community and you calling 9-1-1, this is the uniform you're going to see and those people expect professional service," Setting says.